An Irishwoman visiting Queenstown for the winter season has won a NZ$4,000 half-carat diamond in a restaurant competition.

Traveler Aoife Marnell, aged 27, picked the diamond from a case of sparkling cubic zirconias in a competition celebrating the first birthday of threesixty, Queenstown’s only fusion restaurant.

Diners had to order a glass of Mumm champagne in order to get one chance at picking the diamond.

Marnell was on a date at threesixty, and also hooking up with some friends from her hometown of Kilkenny in Ireland, when she chose the stone.

“It’s still not really sunk in that I’ve won. At the bar I tried to order my usual drink, but my date said ‘go on, have a glass of champagne so you can try to pick the diamond.’ Then I won!” she said. “I’m still in shock.”

Diamonds are definitely this girl’s best friend – rather than sell it to fund her trip, she’s hanging onto her prize.

“The threesixty diamond is like the ultimate souvenir from my travels. I’ve taken a career break for a year and I’m in month seven of the trip, but who could have imagined this would happen?

“I’m having the diamond made into a necklace to remind me of Queenstown and the night I won it.”

Queenstown jeweler Trond Johansson of Goldfields Jewellery, who provided the diamond and cubic zirconias for the competition, will fashion the winning necklace.

Proving truth in the legend that the Irish are lucky, Marnell also won a new car in a competition in Ireland, just a few weeks ago. She entered the competition months ago and had forgotten all about it until an email from her parents broke the good news.

Innovative east-meets-west dining is the focus of contemporary threesixty, which has developed a strong local and visiting clientele since opening its doors in April 2006.

threesixty’s Executive Chef, Joji Iwama, combines authentic and locally grown Asian ingredients with the best of New Zealand produce.

threesixty is located on Beach Street in Queenstown and enjoys spectacular views over Lake Wakatipu and the mountains, providing a dramatic setting for The Whole Experience.

Courtesy of Destination Queenstown - www.queenstown-nz.co.nz